title: Responsiveness of sensorimotor cortex during pharmacological intervention with bromazepam.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of bromazepam on EEG and the motor learning process when healthy subjects were submitted to a typewriting task. We investigated bromazepam due to its abuse by various populations and its prevalent clinical use among older individuals which are more sensitive to the negative effects of long half-life benzodiazepines. A randomized double-blind design was used with subjects divided into three groups: placebo (n=13), bromazepam 3mg (n=13) and bromazepam 6 mg (n=13). EEG data comprising theta, alpha and beta bands was recorded before, during and after the motor task. Our results showed a lower relative power value in the theta band in the Br 6 mg group when compared with PL. We also observed a reduction in relative power in the beta band in the Br 3mg and Br 6 mg when compared with PL group. These findings suggest that Br can contribute to a reduced working memory load in areas related to attention processes. On the other hand, it produces a higher cortical activation in areas associated with sensory integration. Such areas are responsible for accomplishing the motor learning task. The results are an example of the usefulness of integrating electrophysiological data, sensorimotor activity and a pharmacological approach to aid in our understanding of cerebral changes produced by external agents.
authors.affiliation: Brain Mapping and Sensory Motor Integration, Institute of Psychiatry of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IPUB/UFRJ), Brazil. marlo.marques@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Marlo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Cláudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.forename: Victor H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Dionis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Velasques
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Budde
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cagy
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piedade
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001960:Bromazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001960:Bromazepam